How to Iron Without an Ironing Board

Believe it or not, there are millions of households that do not have an ironing board because the money is tight, there is not enough storage space, or they simply dislike the chore. However, you can still look neat and presentable by figuring out how to iron without an ironing board.

At Peachy Interiors, a home design and house décor blog, we have prepared a comparison of a variety of ways to achieve your best dressed-up look without an ironing board.

How to Iron Without an Ironing Board: 7 Alternatives

We get it. You want neat, crisp clothes – but you don’t happen to have an ironing board on hand. Luckily, with a little bit of ingenuity, you can find a number of creative solutions to your no-board problem.

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1. Kitchen Table or Countertop

There is a variety of firm flat surfaces around your home that you can use as an ironing board if you don’t have one. The key here is to avoid ironing directly on the table and use some sort of a heat buffer like a thick cotton towel or a white wool blanket. If you are planning on using steam, we recommend going for only white-colour blankets.

Here are a few tips for using a table or kitchen countertop:

• Make sure to lay a blanket or a white towel on the table to protect the surface.
• Prepare a kitchen towel or a washcloth for setting the iron on.
• Avoid using a glass table, as heat could break the glass.

Pros

• The firm surface makes it easy to achieve nice creases in your clothing.
• Most people have a kitchen table or a countertop in their homes.
• As long as you protect the ironing surface with a cloth towel, there is very little risk of damaging the table.
• Ironing on the table doesn’t take up any additional space, like setting up a dedicated board would.
• Tables and countertops are at just the right height to make it comfortable to iron. You can go easy on your back, as you won’t have to bend over or crouch down.
• You can save storage space by choosing a kitchen table over a traditional ironing board.

Cons

• You won’t be able to complete the chore while the rest of your family is having a meal.
• Most people have items on the countertops or tables, and it can be a hassle to remove them for ironing.
• Leaving a hot iron in the same place for a long period of time can lead to a mark on the table surface.

SHOP: Buy this set of 6 white cotton towels to always have an ironing blanket replacement on hand.

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2. Floor

If you have a wood, stone, or carpet floor, it can work great for ironing. Like with a table, you will need to use a blanket or towel to protect the flooring and make sure that the iron doesn’t touch the floor directly.

Pros

• Ceramic tile, hardwood, and carpet floors can be used.
• As long as you manage to clear a small space on the floor, you will be able to iron.
• You can easily get the creases out of both small and large items on the floor. The only limit would be how large of a blanket or towel you can find to place between the floor and the clothing items.

Cons

• Stains from the floor could transfer to the clothing piece.
• If the floor isn’t clean, your clothing will become dirty from being ironed on the floor.
• The floor may stay warm for some time after the iron has been turned off, especially for ceramic floors.
• Keeping an iron on the floor can be dangerous, especially for families with young children or pets.
• It can be difficult to get down to the floor, – this option is limited by someone’s age and flexibility.
• Ironing on hardwood floors can lead to floor damage. It is important to keep moving the iron and avoid leaving it in the same spot.

SHOP: Use these knee pads to keep yourself comfortable while on the floor.

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3. Steamer

Another option of how to iron your clothes without an ironing board is to swap your iron for a clothes steamer. When using the steamer, follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for setting up the correct settings. Place your clothes on a hanger, and run the steamer up and down the item to quickly get rid of wrinkles.

Pros

• Using a steamer is much faster than using an iron.
• The steamer will never touch the clothes, which reduces the chance of accidentally damaging your favourite clothing piece. In fact, using a steamer is the optimal option for ironing silk, jersey, satin, and polyester.
• The hot steam will relax the clothing fibres without overheating them.
• Some clothing items are difficult to iron but can be easily steamed. This includes suit jackets and items that have a lot of ruffles and pleats.
• Most steamers are small and portable and can be easily taken with you on vacation.
• Steamers work faster than traditional irons.
• They can be easily used for curtains and drapes as well, without the need to take them down.
• Steamers easily remove wrinkles on heavy fabrics that have been stored for a long time.

Cons

• With a steamer, it is impossible to press creases into the fabrics.
• Steamers don’t do an amazing job pressing seams either.
• Certain colours may bleed when the steam is applied, so it is always important to test your clothes before using the steamer.
• It is possible to oversteam and ruin a garment.

SHOP: Use this hand-held clothes steamer to get rid of even the oldest wrinkles.

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4. Ironing Blanket

Ironing blankets are great for travellers or those who don’t have the time to set up a full-on ironing board. These blankets are heat-resistant and can quickly transform any firm surface into an ironing board. Simply throw the blanket on a hard surface and get to work.

Pros

• Ironing blankets are smaller than standard ironing boards, which makes them perfect for use on any surface.
• The specially-designed ironing area is 100% cotton, so you won’t have to worry about colour transfer.
• The blanket can roll up into a small bundle, which allows you to save up some storage room and take the blanket with you on vacation.
• A non-skid bottom is designed to keep the pad in place, no matter which surface you are using to iron.
• These blankets can be wrapped around the iron when storing it, preventing any potential damage.
• A special blanket helps to prevent heat transfer to the surface you are ironing on, which reduces the chance of scorching the surface.
• A variety of blankets are available in many sizes so users can buy the one that will exactly fit their needs.

Cons

• While ironing pads and blankets are handy and small, they still take additional storage space.
• These blankets can’t be used on softer surfaces like a bed, as they won’t provide enough resistance to press down and get out wrinkles and creases.
• Even though ironing blankets do a great job at preventing steam and heat from damaging most surfaces, fine wood furniture can still get damaged.
• Smaller pads make it challenging to iron larger garments, and, without practice, users may create more wrinkles by trying to maneuver the clothing to fit the pad.

SHOP: Try our favourite ironing blanket, which comes with a silicone iron rest pad.

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5. How to Iron Without an Iron Board on Your Bed

For a quick solution, you can use your own bed in place of an ironing board. To iron without an ironing board on your bed, simply throw down a thick blanket or a towel and iron your clothes on top of it. Make sure to stand the iron up properly and set up a station on an end table to place the iron on as you fix cuffs, collars, or hems between swipes.

Pros

• It’s convenient to pull clothing out of the closet and iron it in the same room.
• You don’t have to worry about getting out an ironing board and freeing up space to set it up.
• Because you won’t be using a wooden surface, there is no risk of scorching the wood.

Cons

• If you iron on the bedding, you can accidentally scorch it by leaving the appliance in the same location for too long.
• Even the firmest mattress won’t provide enough resistance and support to really press out creases and wrinkles.
• Ironing while someone is still sleeping can result in accidentally getting them burned.
• If the bed is low in height, it could be uncomfortable to bend over.
• On larger garments that need to be ironed in sections, it’s common to have more wrinkles created in areas that you have already pressed, increasing the amount of work you need to put in to get a smooth garment.

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6. Washing Machine

A great hack for getting a wrinkle-free look on your laundry is to use the top of your washing machine or dryer. Simply place down a thick towel and get working. You can also buy a special magnetic mat created specifically for the top of your dryer or washer.

Pros

• A washing machine has the perfect height, making the process more comfortable and easy on the back.
• Ironing on top of the washing machine is very time-efficient, as the machine is located right in the laundry room.
• You can use the metal of the washing machine to your advantage and quickly get any of the wrinkles out.

Cons

• The metal of the washer or dryer conducts heat and can easily burn somebody. This means that you need to work very quickly to make sure that you don’t hurt yourself.
• The hot washing machine will keep the heat for a while, so it is important to make sure that children and pets stay away.

SHOP: This heat- and scorch-resistant magnetic pad is perfect for using over the washing machine top.

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7. How to Iron Dress Shirt Without an Ironing Board with Flat Iron

To easily get rid of creases on cuffs and iron without an ironing board, you can use a flat iron. Set low to medium heat levels to quickly fix any issues with creases on your collars and cuffs.

Pros

• Many women own a flat iron, and it can be quickly used to get rid of small wrinkles on clothing garments.
• Lower settings work great even on more delicate fabrics.
• Perfect for problem areas such as collars, cuffs, and around buttons.
• It doesn’t require any surface, making it the most portable option.

Cons

• Using a flat iron won’t work for pressing large areas of fabric.
• It can ruin clothes if the flat iron still has hair products on its surface.

SHOP: This ceramic flat iron will surely leave your hair straight and your shirts wrinkle-free.

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No Iron? Other Options of How to Iron Clothes Without an Ironing Board

Now that we have figured out how to iron without an ironing board, let’s take a look at other alternatives to an iron itself. Even if you can’t find an iron, a steamer, or a flat iron, don’t get discouraged. There are ways to get the wrinkles out even without a dedicated appliance.

1. Toss Clothes in a Dryer

You can easily get wrinkles out of your clothes with a dryer and save some time, as you can multitask while the dryer is doing its job. Simply spray the garment slightly with water or put it in with a wet towel.

Set the dryer for 5 to 10 minutes on medium heat. Once the time is up, take the items out immediately and hang them until they are fully dry.

2. Hang Clothes in the Bathroom

Alternatively, you can hang the garments on a clothes hanger and place them inside the bathroom to let the shower steam get rid of any creases or wrinkles. Turn up the shower temperature, close all the doors and windows, and wait 10 to 20 minutes before checking on the clothes.

SHOP: Use this folding clothes drying rack to fit multiple garments in your bathroom at the same time.

3. Try a Wrinkle Release Spray

If you want to try something slightly different or are on the go most of the time, consider purchasing a wrinkle release spray. These sprays come in handy and work by relaxing the fibres of your clothes to speed up wrinkle removal. Spray, pull the garment taut and smooth, and hang to dry before using it.

SHOP: Try something new with this natural wrinkle release spray.

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